The Arena of Valor (AoV) final saw a thrilling face-off between Malaysia and the home team, China. While the Malaysian esports enthusiasts had high hopes, the seasoned Chinese team boasted players like Sun Liwei, Lin Heng, Chi Xiaoming, Xu Bincheng, and Tao Jiang. They delivered a standout performance at the Hangzhou esports Arena.
Chinese Mastery
Malaysia showed impressive form initially, with players Chong Han Hui, Eng Jun Hao, Lai Chia Chien, Nicholas Ng Khai Shuan, Ong Jun Yang, and Yong Zhan Quan taking a 2-1 lead in the early minutes. This brilliant start caught China by surprise.
However, the expertise of the Chinese players, many of whom have competed in multiple AoV leagues, led to a swift comeback. This converted in an 8-3 victory over Malaysia.
[E-sports] – Arena of Valor
— Z ๐๐ฒ๐พ (@theone_xyz) September 26, 2023
๐ฅ for Malaysia ๐ #AsianGames #Hangzhou2022#AsianGames2022 pic.twitter.com/YpVRo172Gu
China’s dominance was more pronounced in the second round, where they secured a resounding 10-1 win, clinching the gold medal.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Malaysiaโs captain Chia Chien likened their competitors to masterful elders. He said, โItโs like playing against the grandfather, while we are the grandchild. China are the best for a reason. They have been playing this game for seven years now. They have vast experience.โ
Ahead of the competition, the Malaysian team underwent intense training, practicing 10-12 hours daily for two weeks. Their dedication bore fruit as they clinched the silver medal. But the journey does not stop there.
Looking Ahead
Wong Kang Woon, the team manager, shared the exciting news that Malaysia has earned an opportunity to compete in the AoV professional league. They ended up with a whopping prize pool of US$10 million (equivalent to RM46 million).
He remarked, โThe purse is US$10mil. We will head home and set up a professional team. I know the boys are eager to be part of the team..”
With a mix of youthful energy and newfound experience, the Malaysian team is poised to make its mark in the esports world.